Electric time-switch.



K. F. RICHMOND.

ELECTRIC TIME SWITCH. APPLICATION FILED AUG-26. m4.

1,162,516; Patented Nov. 30, 1915.

r o F 5212 L1! 8 v E 10 9 .942 10 11 E I fweioiaiz .6 v v 2d way-38. w.flffiackizzaz I UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

KENNETH FORBES RICHMOND, OF LONDON, ENGLAND.

ELECTRIC TIME-SWITGH.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed August 26, 1914. Serial N0. 858,77

flowing from one chamber to anotherthrough a small orifice. Regulationofthe timing by variation in the size of the orlfice in order to controlthe flow of the conducting liquid is diflicult. Another defect is thetendency to undue vaporization and oxida- .tion of the conducting fluidwhen the break in the continuity is being effected.

The object of the invention is to provide a tilting time switch in whichthe above mentioned difficulties are avoided.

In a tilting time switch according to the invention the flow ofconducting liquid from one chamber-to another, when the switch istilted, is controlled by the correspondlng flow ofan insulating liquidthrough a restricted passagebetween the chambers, and. the break in thecontinuity between the poles is preferably effected by division of theconducting liquid over a sharp edge or ridge.

The invention also comprises the use of a liquid such as paraffin oil,in conjunction with air to act as the insulating fluid and of a porousdiaphragm to act as the restricted passage, so that the timing may beregulated initially by varying'the volume of the air spaces, or duringuse by altering the angle of tilt, whereby the area of the diaphragm incontact with the oil and consequent rate of percolation of the oil maybe varied.

The invention further comprises details hereinafter referred to.

Referring to the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 is a sectionalelevation of the t1lting receptacle of one form of switch according tothe invention, the conductive liquid being) shown in the positionassumed afterrequili rium has been established, and the currentinterrupted. Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation of the same receptacletilted in an, opposite direction, and showing the conductive liquldinthe position assumed immediatel after the tilt, while current isflowing. 1g. 3 is a similar view to Fig. 2, showing the conductive fluidagain in a state of equilibrium, indicating an interruption in thecurrent. Fig. 4 is a side elevation of one half of the receptacle. Fig.5 is a cross section on VV Fig. 1. Fig. 6 is a sect1onal elevationillustrating one mode of mounting the tllting receptacle and ofregulatlng the angle or tilt thereof. Fig. 7 is a front elevationillustrating another mode of mounting the receptacle and of regulatingthe angle of tilt thereof, Fig. 8 being a part sectlonal elevationcorresponding thereto. Figs. 9 and 10 show details.

Patented Nov. 30, 1915.

In carrying out the invention according to one mode a receptacle a, ofporcelain or other suitable material and of prismatic cross section, isdivided into two chambers 6, 0, by a diaphragm d arranged diagonallywith respect to said casing. Free communication between the two chambers25 and c is effected-by a channel 6, the diaphragm of having an orificef adjacent thereto. A restriated 'passage between the two chambers isprovided by using a diaphragm d of 7 porous material, for example,porous paper.

or convenience of manufacture, the receptacle a is made in two pieces,which are adapted to be secured together by an adhesive material, thepaper diaphragm being held between them at their meeting edges andsecured by the same adhesive material.

The chambers 12 and 0, are provided with passages g and h, to receiveiron plugs or other pole pieces between which the heavy conductiveliquid, such as mercury i, is to make an electrical connection.

I The passages g are separated from the channel e by ridges k, Z, havingsharp edges as shown. These ridges are immersed when the casing orreceptacle 0. is in a vertical position.

Any suitable insulating liquid above the conductive liquid may be used,for instance, a. liquid such as oil. It is preferred to use a layer ofFaraifin m, and to leave a space at for air. he air space may be variedin size and in some cases may be dispensed with, that is, the wholespace above the mercury'may be filled with oil.- The chambers marepreferably of triangular cross section as shown in-Fig.

:formed in the passages containing the pole pieces, as a result'ofagitation. .By dividing the conductive fluid by sharp ridges ashereinbefore described not only is a quick break insured but thetendency for the fluid to be drawn over from the passages containing thepole pieces is minimized, thus practically eliminating b'othirregularities in timing and the inclusion of bubbles of insulatingfiuid in said passages. By regulating the angle of tilt the area of thediaphragm in contact with oil may be further varied, and as the head ofmercury will also be varied, the period of time taken in establishingequilibrium and interruption of the current can thus be regulated tosome extent after the apparatus has been set up and the volume of theair spaces determined.

In the constructional examples illustrated in Figs. 6, 7 and 8, meansfor regulating the tilt are provided. In the example shown in Fig. 6,the receptacle a, is mounted in ametal frame 7), pivoted at g, andadapted to be tilted about the pivot g, by a hand lever 1'. Iron polepieces 8, t, are connected by flexible wires to, v, to binding screws w,01:. Means may be provided to avoid the possibility of the receptacle 0being left 111 an monly adopted in tumbler'switches,

as is coma s a, may be adapted to bear on a spring a. Means may also beprovided whereby the receptacle a, may be fixed at will in an uprightposiupright position, for instance,

'tion, thus establishing a continuous circuit, .when this is desired.

The switch is inclosed in a suitable casing 2 having a slot 3 for thepassage of the hand lever r. The angle through which the hand lever 1'can be oscillated is limited by the length of the slot 3, but in orderto permit of the angle being varied to regulate the angle of tilt, andthereby to regulate the timing of the switch, the pivot q is adapted tobe moved vertically relatively to the slot 3. For this purpose it iscarried by a screwed rod 4 which can be raised and lowered by a nut 5fitted in the bottomof the casing. The rod 4 has a squared portion 6passing through a guide 7, by which it is prevented from rotating.

7 In the other constructional example shown in Figs. 7 and 8, the pivotg, of the receptacle 5, as this enables the vol-. "ume of the chambersto be reduced without ayis fixed to the frame 72 and is extended toreceive a small hand lever r, by which it can be oscillated about itsaxis. The angle of oscillation is limited by a lug y engaging w1th aV-shaped piece 8 adapted to be raised and lowered by a screw 9. Thescrew 9 has a collar 10 engaging with a fork 11 on the stem 12 of thepiece 8.

In order that'the receptacle (1 may be fixed in an upright position,when it is desired to establish a continuous circuit, the hand lever 1'may be provided with a small projection 13 adapted to engage with aspring plate 14 screwed on to the front of the casing, the plate havinga central recess 15 to receive the pro ection 13.

structions are given by way of-example,

only, and that any suitable means may be used for tilting the receptacleand for regulating the angle of tilt. Similarly the porous diaphragm isonly one example of a restricted passage between the two-chambers, as avery fine capillary tube or aperture may be used with 'a non-porousdiaphragm, althoughthe porous diaphragm is preferred.

I claim 1. A tilting time switch having a movable casing of prismaticcross section, a porous diaphragm arranged across a diagonal plane anddividing said easing into separate chambers of triangular cross section,a conducting liquid distributed in said chambers, terminal polesconnecting .with the conducting liquid in said separate chambers andinsulating liquid in said chambers.

2. A tilting time switch having a pivoted casing, a porous diaphragmdividing said easing into separate chambers, a ridge having a sharpangular edge in the base of each chamber, said ridges forming pockets inthe said base, conducting liquid in said base and in-which said ridgesare immersed during passage of current, pole pieces connecting with theliquid pockets to the side of said ridges remote from said diaphragm,and insulating liquid in said chambers.

3. A tilting time switch having a pivoted casing, a diaphragm dividingsaid easing into separate chambers, pole pieces connected to saidchambers, conducting liquid in said chambers, insulating liquid in saidchambers and means for controlling the tilting movement of said casing.y

4. A tilting time switch having a pivoted casing, a diaphragm dividingsaid casing into separate chambers, pole pieces connected q to saidchambers, conducting liquid in said name to'this specification in thepresence of chambers, insulating liquid in saidchambers two subscribingwitnesses. and means for controlling the tilting moveinent of saidcasing, comprising a lug on KENNETH FORBES RICHMOND 5 said casing andadjustable stops adapted to Witnesses:

engage said lug. A. W. MATHYS,

In testimony whereof I have signed my PETER S. H. ALEXANDER.

